Table of Contents:

Page 2: Why are butterflies important?

Page 3: How long do butterflies live?

Page 4: Metamorphosis 

Page 5: Stage 1 Egg

Page 6: Stage 2 Larva

Page 7: Stage 3 Pupa

Page 8: Stage 4 Adult

Page 9: Where do butterflies live?

Page 10: Ten fun facts 

    1

Important components of a Thriving Ecosystem

Butterflies are important to the food chain because they are both predators and prey.  Adult butterflies and caterpillars are an important source of food for animals like bats and birds.

j                   Why are butterflies important?

    2

 How long do butterflies live?

An average butterfly has an adult life span of two weeks or less.

Monarch butterflies typically live from 2 to 6 weeks except for

the last generation of the 

year, which can live up to 

8 to 9 months. 

     3

Metamorphosis

The butterfly develops through a process called metamorphosis.

This means, transformation or change in shape.

There are four stages in the metamorphosis of a butterfly: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

    4

Stage 1 

Egg

Eggs are laid on plants by the adult female butterfly. These plants will then become the food for the hatching caterpillars.

Butterfly eggs can be very small.

Eggs can be laid from spring, summer or fall. 

Females lay a lot of eggs at once so that at least some of them survive.

      5